10 Jobs That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago

Our world continues to change as the digital transformation rages on, now more than ever it is important to look at how these changes can impact you and how you can benefit from them. These changes have given rise to many new professions, unthought-of a mere decade ago. In this blog post, we’ll dive into what new opportunities can take your career to the next level. Many of these new jobs appeal to people born between the 1980s and the late 1990’s- otherwise known as “Millennials”. Also known as Generation Z, these people are characterized by their digital prowess and their ease with everything online. They are used to living a fast pace of life and information flows at their fingertips, in a matter of seconds. This shift in attitudes and way of life has a big impact on the business world, and creates a need for more online-based, fast-paced, and flexible jobs- there has never been a greater need for innovative jobs. 

Let’s sum up ten forward-thinking jobs which allow you to contribute to digital transformation.

1. Big Data Analyst

Big data is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days but its importance is undeniable. With the ever-increasing amount of data, we as a species are collecting, at least 44 zettabytes in existence today, we need more people that are capable of dealing with these massive amounts of data. It is an opportunity that comes with a severe challenge, as understanding and creating the algorithms and systems that utilize big data is no easy task.

2. Blockchain Developer

Since the conception of Bitcoin in 2009, a lot has happened. Blockchain was not a new technology by the time Bitcoin was invented, in fact, the technology had first been proposed in 1982. It would take about thirty years, however, for that technology to see some widespread adoption. Today, many companies are investing in blockchain technology as it provides new and increasingly secure ways for storing data. It can be used for much more than just cryptocurrency and getting familiar with this field will give you a very valuable skill set.

3. Data Protection Officer

Since the implementation of the GDPR, many companies have been forced to re-evaluate the personal data they are collecting. Not adhering to these new standards can come at the cost of hefty fines, so companies understand the need to invest in this field. Because of this increased scrutiny, the field of data protection has been elevated to a new level. Getting familiar with these regulations, and being able to implement transformative solutions to adhere to them, requires a lot of knowledge and skill but almost every large company is looking for talented people in this field.  

4. Social Media Marketeers

Nobody could have predicted that when Mark Zuckerberg was still a junior at Harvard, Facebook would one day change the world! The widespread adoption of Facebook and other social media has led to a lot of developments in the world of marketing. Advertising has become increasingly complex, as marketers are able to target their audience with frightening accuracy and customization. This new art form is still developing, but nearly all organizations understand the impact of social media and have a lively presence on these platforms.

5. SEO Specialist

Within the domain of marketing, another newly formed position comes to mind, with a specialty in search engine optimization. This practice was unthinkable at the time of Google’s inception many years ago, but now it has become a staple of the digital transformation. Our reliance on search engines such as Google has become so great, that companies now vie for a top place in the rankings. Getting there is no easy feat, as the competition is fierce and the algorithms are ever-changing. Companies need specialists to increase their rankings and achieving this is extremely valuable.

6. Commercial Astronaut

To be completely fair, the first commercial spaceflight actually occurred in 2004. But only recently has the practice been gaining public attention with the rise of companies such as SpaceX. Elon Musk is not the only one to grasp for the stars, as more and more private companies focused on space travel are created. There are not many opportunities to get into this field, as the training and requirements are more than the average person can handle. Still, it is interesting to see how a new industry is born.

7. Driverless Car Engineer

On the other side of the spectrum, here’s one that is creating some noise- on earth! Cars can now function without a human being holding onto the steering wheel. This was a mere concept explored in science-fiction and is now a reality that keeps evolving daily.

8. Cloud Architect

This position is very popular in today’s STEM fields. Cloud architects are information technology specialists who develop the firm’s computing strategy, design cloud adoption plans, establish cloud management, and produce a lasting design. This job has reached its peak in the last couple of years. 

9. Podcast producer

In this day and age, audio content sells. A recent study reported a rise in podcast listening, with 55 percent of US consumers listening to audio podcasts, up from 51 percent in the previous year. Clearly, this is a vast market that is growing rapidly. Naturally, people need to produce podcasts- that’s where the podcast producer comes in. These people have many responsibilities, such as podcast management, overseeing quality control, and guest research. It is predicted that podcast producers will be even more in demand in the future.

10. All careers revolving around the Internet of Things (IoT) 

The Internet of Things is a field that is growing rapidly. It is predicted that IoT has the potential to increase global corporate profits by 21% by 2022. The IoT market is vast and there are many job opportunities related to it, such as IoT security engineer (this person makes sure that the software and systems are not threatened by any breaches or intrusions), and IoT platform developer (a professional who can develop, manage and monitor IoT devices). To learn more about career opportunities in IoT, check out this article.

Here ends our list of 10 jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago. What we can see is that new specializations are coming up frequently, which all have to do with digital transformation and emerging technology. As tech changes, so are jobs. Learning a new skill may make you extra marketable for future jobs. The current prediction is that jobs will have more and more lengthy and specialized titles, and will become the norm in the next ten years. We can expect new forward-thinking jobs, such as virtual store assistants, personal memory curators, and memory augmentation surgeons. What do you think are potential jobs that could arise 10 years from now? Leave a comment below!